Happy Tuesday! Hope you all had great Memorial Day weekends with lots of fun, sun and friends! Mine was spent in Virginia Beach with my roommate and her family. It was a much needed escape from the chaos of my life to get away, spend some down time getting some sun, and being around some of the most kind and amazing people I know. And the view wasn't too bad either:

(More pictures to come, once I get my lazy self to load them online). There was lots of fun this weekend, but at the end, I had to face the reality that it was time to make some decisions about my life. Where to live? Whether to keep my job or look for another one? Etc etc. Basically all of the decisions that make you feel settled in life. I definitely had some anger moments at the ex for leaving me in this predicament with very little time to figure out what it is that I want to do. But today I found out that I can stay in my current apartment, and I asked my supervisor for my job back (which I think it is still available, thankfully). So, ex boyfriend, you haven't totally screwed me over, just partially. This will allow me some time to figure out what I want, where I want to be, etc but get some footing for myself.

So instead of hitching my star to someone else's wagon, I'm hitching my wagon to my own star, making the most of the situation that I'm in by taking it day by day, and surrounding myself with people who I care about.

This week has been an emotional rollercoaster for sure....and today is supposed to be Photo Inspiration Friday! What's a better excuse to look at something inspiring?? :)

This is my photo inspiration this week:

{All photos via pinterest.com}

This week my inspiration has come from my friends, both everyday/in person friends, and my blog friends. Without all of you, I'm not sure how I would have survived this past week--but I do know that it would have been more painful. I have gotten inspiration from all of you, and it has helped me keep my head up, my heart open, and my eyes on the future.

Today's photo inspiration is for you.

What's inspiring you this week? Link up and share with me, and everyone else. We can all use a little inspiration. I know I sure can! So link up (it's open until Sunday at midnight)!

Hey everyone! Hope your weeks are winding down nicely. This week has been quite the doozy for me. All kinds of life changes have happened, BUT I'm ok. Strangely okay, actually.

Tuesday was an emotional rollercoaster. The numbness wore off and I sat in the middle of the emotional wreckage. But I needed that. Wednesday started off rough because I came back to work and had to tell my coworkers about the break up. And then, as the day went on, I spoke to and heard from multiple people, and had the chance to process out my feelings about things. I was able to open up my mind and my heart to some things that I hadn't been able to before.

So today, day 3, emotionally I feel as if this happened a month or so ago. I know I'm not totally done healing from this (I would never be naive enough to think that), but I am able to look at this from a completely different standpoint than the "OMG, what the hell just happened? How am I going to survive this?" feelings. I am SO thankful that it happened now, as opposed to after I moved, or after we got married or......it could have been SO much worse. Yeah, it was a surprise, BUT I can honestly say, that it was for the best.

I really attribute a lot of my healing to those of you who contacted me, and especially those individuals who shared their own stories (or stories about people they know) with me. Seeing that other people have gone through it, have survived, and met amazing people afterwards, really put things into perspective for me. He wasn't who I wanted to be with--I let myself believe that certain things weren't really what I thought (and felt) that they were. I know I deserve someone who would take my side no matter what, and someone I would never have to question whether or not they would be faithful the entire time we were together. Someone who would make me feel 100% secure in what we have together. I didn't have that. I wanted to believe that I did, but I didn't.

I have a sense of freedom now. I can make whatever choices that I want to for myself right now. I can find a new job if I want, I can pick up and move anywhere if I want to (I was already preparing for it anyway), and I can find happiness. I feel SO strong right now....probably the most whole and strong that I have ever felt in my life. And I have this feeling inside of me that whoever I am to end up with is somewhere waiting for me. But for right now, I'm concentrating on figuring out what it is that I want, and what it is that's going to make me happy. (Holy crap, when did I become this incredibly emotionally mature person????)

Again, I have to say thank you to all of you for your outpouring of love, sharing of stories, and thoughts/prayers. You all have been truly inspiring to me, and have helped to pull me out of the doldrums that I thought I would be lost in for a while. I am so thankful that I started this blog, even if it was about my LDR. Without this, I wouldn't have been touched by so many people, and most certainly would not be as "okay" as I am today. So, thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. I truly mean it.

1) I'm loving all of my friends, both in the real world, and in the blog world, who have reached out to give me some comforting words and love during this time. I have experienced pain before in terms of relationships, and this one is probably one of the hardest, but seeing this outpouring of love from so many people humbles me. It puts life into perspective and makes me truly appreciate each and every soul who wrote me, or called me, texted me to make sure I was ok. I really sincerely appreciate it beyond what words can say. *virtual hugs back to everyone who sent them out to me!!!*

2) I'm loving that I made it through 4 hours of work today without a tear shed (PROGRESS!) haha. And I owe a ton of that to my friend at work, Emily, who let me hang out in her classroom all day (while I avoided sitting in my office alone), and talk, and vent and cry when I needed to. The kids in her classroom, even though they didn't know anything was wrong, gave me hugs and love and that was enough to fill in some of the cracks in my heart.

3) I'm loving that I got out into the sunshine today (thanks again to Emily). Fresh air, nice weather and sunshine does a broken spirit good in the healing process.

4) I'm loving that I don't feel as broken today as I did yesterday. A good sign that time does heal all wounds, and it will.

5) I'm loving that my parents are amazing. I'm super lucky that they live close enough by that my mom was able to drop everything and come over on Monday night to comfort me and give me hugs that only moms can give. I love them so much and I'm glad that I didn't leave here for some guy who didn't truly appreciate me in the end. My parents are amazing.

6) I'm loving that I can say, with confidence, that I know that I am a good person, and that I deserve good things, and wonderful people to love me. I know it will happen (I'm just hoping Mr Wonderful decides to enter sometime in the near future haha).

Hey everyone. This post is not an easy one to write, but here goes anyway...

I know many of you know that I was planning an upcoming move to St. Louis in order to end the distance part of my soon-to-be-2 year relationship (anniversary is in 6 days). During this relationship, we had had our ups and downs in relation to his parents and their view of our relationship due to me not being Jewish. Despite my willingness to convert, all of the conversations we've had, reassurances, plans, etc. "Boyfriend" called me after work yesterday and the first thing he told me was "I can't do this anymore."

His mind was made up by the sound of his voice. It wasn't a discussion but more of him telling me how depressed he has been with his family's disappointment and how he has put my happiness in front of his and really "tried" for 2 years to work past this with them. He hadn't told them I was moving there yet.

So, with less than a month and a half left to go before I was supposed to have him come out here and help me move out there to be together, after I had quit my job and told my apartment complex that I wasn't coming back.....he tells me this. Out of nowhere. And because I WAS excited, and told everyone, I now get to go back through all of the people in my life, and tell them "Just kidding. I'm not leaving" and explain the situation. I feel like an idiot. And to make matters worse, he changed his facebook profile picture and relationship status within 2 hours of our phone call. Knife to my heart.

I sit here incredibly numb since it was not expected in the slightest. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that just a few days ago he was talking about looking for jobs in other states, but wanted to make sure that I would be ok with moving to those places one day, because if I wouldn't be, he wouldn't even think of applying there. And that our anniversary weekend in NY was this weekend. And now, I'll never see him again.

I haven't had a full out cry fest yet (which is totally not like me)....but it scares me for when that moment comes. I just feel like someone picked up my world, and all of my plans, shook it vigorously and then threw it into the air. I'm not really sure where I'm going to land. I have no job, no place to live in a month and a half, and the person I was looking forward to spending the rest of my life with has suddenly decided that he "can't do it anymore." Just like that. One day and it's all changed. I'm going through sadness, disbelief and anger right now, and it rotates from moment to moment, hour to hour.

So, today I am picking up the pieces as best as I can, starting the healing process, and hoping that my friends rally around me, both in person and my blog friends. I know some of you have started following me because you're also in a long distance relationship. I hope you continue to follow, as the next part of my journey will hopefully be the greatest part.

Needless to say I might be down in the dumps for a while and not as active on here as I would be, at least for a few days.....and I need to re-vamp the whole blog since I don't really want a daily reminder of St. Louis, or him, on here. But, I'll be around.

Just wanted to let you in on my life, as the winds of change have blown in.....

Hey, bloggie friends! Hope your week is starting off on the right foot! This weekend was jam-packed with a visit from my roommate's sister, Michelle (aka Virginia Beach Housewife), brother-in-law, nephew and doggie! The weather was amazing so we went all over DC (Eastern Market, Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, etc) and had a blast! So, needless to say, I went to bed early last night to get rested up and ready for another week!

With the weather forecast with scattered thunderstorms pretty much the entire week, I'm feeling a little gloomy, so I thought I'd focus on some of the things that I'm looking forward to:

1) Seeing Boyfriend on Thursday or Friday (depending on his work load at work) in NYC for our anniversary weekend. I can't believe it's been 2 years of this long distance dating, and that it's coming to a rapid close (thankfully, for both of our sanity....and my friends' sanity who have to hear my blatherings about it, haha). And we are staying across from the Lincoln Center, so I'll have this to wake up to each morning:

Unfortunately, the weather forecast is looking gloomy there too, but I'm crossing my fingers that some front comes in and blows it away!

2) Getting a moving quote this week. I have been on the lookout/search for
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﻿ a good moving company to hire for my move to St. Louis. I thought about doing PODS, but when I called them, they quoted me at $2,000 for the 8x7x7 cube. Uhhh, say what??? 1) Not even sure I could fit my stuff in that, and 2) $2000 for a box??? That doesn't even include people loading and unloading for me?? No thank you. I've gotten some good quotes from moving companies, but when I look up the company online for reviews, there's hardly any information about them, or the reviews are terrible. Me no likey. So, I'm having United Van Lines come out tomorrow since they're a big company with a good reputation. (Any advice from you all on moving companies that you've used--let me know!).

3) Follow me on this one....my ex boyfriend's, old roommate's, wife, Amberr (did you get that??) is coming to town for work and we're meeting up for dinner this week. Altho ex bf and I don't talk, I got to know his roommate and roommate's wife while we dated, so whenever Amberr has work down in this area, we try to meet up and catch up on life in person. I think it's been about a year since I saw her, so I'm looking forward to catching up!

4) Today marks 18 more days of school....and they can not end fast enough (altho, I'm still waiting on hearing from St. Louis schools, so maybe I don't want the time to fly TOO fast...leaving Jenn jobless and hopeless haha).

5) I got this super cute top at Target yesterday. Just happened to see it on my way to check out...grabbed it off the rack without trying it on (it's like I knew how amazing it would be) and it fits! And, it's really cute! ANNNNND it was only $14.95! I'm thinking it will look cute with the linen pants I showed you all before from NY&Co:
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(ok, who am I kidding, you know I totally tried the whole thing on when I got home, and it looks super cute!)

So, I'm thinking this outfit will go into my suitcase for this weekend's rendezvouz with Boyfriend! Woohoo!

I'm sure there are some other things going on this week, but those are the ones I'm keeping at the forefront of my mind to make it through the day/week!

Happy Friday everyone! Today will be the second attempt at starting my link-up: Photo Inspiration Friday!

All you need to do is find a photo (or two, three, any number) of something that has inspired you this week. It could be clothes, color schemes, places, items....anything you want! And then just share why it inspires you, and link up below! Easy peasey! (You have until Saturday at midnight to link up!)

This week, my inspiration has come from all of these amazing pictures I keep seeing on websites like weheartit.com, and pinterest.com of Greece. I have been dying to go there for some time, and Boyfriend and I were planning a trip there for this summer. But, with my move out there coming up, no job yet (so lots of interviews, hopefully), it's hard for us to make plans for a certain time. So, our Greece trip is currently on hold, but it hasn't stopped me from being inspired to make mental notes for when we do make the plan. So here's my Photo Inspiration this Friday:﻿

Happy Friday, all! This weekend my roommate's sister, brother-in-law and little nephew are coming to visit with their dog, Chipper. So, we will all have playmates for the weekend, including my little guy Cooper. Tonight we are all planning on going out to dinner in Georgetown somewhere, especially since the weather is supposed to be nice for once!! Woohoo!! So, for today's Friday's Fancies link up with {av} at {long distance loving}, my Friday's Fancies are as follows:

Hey all! So I'm back with a pic of the new 'do! What do you think? I like it--now we'll see if I can come close to replicating it when I style and dry it myself (not bloody likely!!!!) haha I think he did a nice job of combining the three pictures I gave him:

(Disregard the clothes on the back of my chair. I'm a slacker and haven't hung them up yet haha)

It's a little wind-blown since I just got in from walking my dog also. Ok, I'll stop making excuses now :)

Hey bloggy friends! It's almost the end of the weeeeeek! Yay! I'm hoping the weather here this weekend starts to get a little more cheery. I'm getting tired of seeing rain everyday (and having humidity hair along with it).

Speaking of hair, I'm getting my hair cut today. I'm a creature of habit and get nervous that if I try something different, I will look like a baffoon! I love my hair dresser (I met him at a salon within a mall, and since knowing him he has started his own salon, and is winning all kinds of awards and whatnot), but I'm still nervous. Change can freak me out--especially when it's something that people see on a daily basis.

So, I'm not going to do anything too dramatically different but, I'm loving a side bang lately, so I'm going to see if he can somehow work out a hairstyle from these three pictures:

Love these side bangs (and I love the whole cut but I know I would never be able to get my hair to look like that on a daily basis)

Love the layers on this one

Love the length of this one

So, I'm hoping my hair guy can work some magic and make me look like a "supermodel" as he tells me (and every other chick whose hair he cuts) that I look like when he's done with me! haha

What do you guys think?? Good look?

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Also, don't forget to participate in my link up tomorrow for Photo Inspiration Friday! (Just choose a photo or multiple photos, of something/someone that has inspired you this week. My first post was lanterns. Check it out here). So, come back tomorrow and link up!! I'm so looking forward to seeing new participants and what's inspiring you this week!

Happy happy Wednesday, lovies! Super excited that I've made it through half of the week, and that I'm linking up with Jamie @ this kind of love for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving that Boyfriend and my anniversary weekend trip to NYC is only one week and one day away! It will have been about 4-5 weeks since I last saw him, and I am craving some Boyfriend cuddle time. And I'm super excited to be celebrating 2 years together, surviving distance.

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4th of July last year with Boyfriend

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I'm loving that Boyfriend and I set a date for my move out to St. Louis so we can end the distance part of our relationship. So, July 4th weekend will be fireworks and my move across country to be with the love of my life! 44 days and counting...

I'm loving Pinterest! I had heard a ton of people mention it in the blog world, and finally decided to give it a go. And now, I AM OBSESSED! I spend a ton of my free time going through the site, finding cool pictures, hair styles, clothes and fooooood recipes! I salivate on a daily basis now thanks to some of the recipes that are posted. One in particular, Cajun Chicken Pasta I can't wait to try! Look how yummy:

I'm loving the movie Something Borrowed. I saw it this weekend with my roommate and it was super cute. I am definitely buying it when it comes out. Also, anyone who saw it, did you notice the covert placement of the Something Blue book in one of the scenes?? (Check out when Rachel and Ethan are talking on a park bench in one of the earlier scenes if you missed it!) Loved loved loved this book, and the movie!

I hope you all are finding some cool things to be loving today! Go over and link up!!
Happy Wednesday!

You ever have a morning where one thing goes wrong, and you're thinking to yourself 'Please don't let this be an indication of the rest of the day'? Well, that's how my morning started out. First it was a delayed Metro line (which always seems to happen RIGHT before I get there, so I come down to a platform filled with people). At that point I knew I would probably be smooshed like a sardine on the train, and late for work. Awesome. **It was now that I thought: please let this not be what the rest of the day is going to be like** But I took it in stride, and ended up making it off of the metro about 5 minutes after I was supposed to be at work (not too bad).

﻿ So I proceeded to hurry my hiney along to work. It's raining today so I was being careful: crossing with the sign and within the crosswalk, when this woman in her fancy/expensive car, thinks it's a great idea to: 1) be speeding on a rainy day, and 2) to be speeding while making a turn....WHILE we have the crosswalk sign. I came within inches of getting his by this idiot's car (would not have made for a fun Tuesday), and she just raises her hand in a "sorry".....thanks, lady. I might need to change my underwear now, and apply for a heart transplant since mine has now jumped out of my throat onto the pavement....but thanks.

I wobble my shaky legs to work, get started with the day, feeling safe from wandering cars on the 5th floor of the school building. I'm in my office, getting my work done, being a productive member of the workforce and I hear some change hit my chair. I look down....it didn't come from my pocket. I look out into the hallway and a 7th grade girl is standing there with an "ooooooh" look on her face. I asked her if someone threw it and she said yes, and shows me it's one of the kids who I see. Apparently he thought it would be funny to chuck a quarter into my office at me. Double awesome. So now I get to chase him down, while he is walking away from me, saying that "it wasn't even my money" (yeah, but you threw it, numbnut) and how "everyone keeps picking on me" (yes, but if you didn't do stuff like throw quarters at teachers perhaps there would not be any 'picking' going on). Ahh the idiocies logic of teenagers.

So, I am thinking that someone in the universe really does not want me working here anymore. The countdown is at 44 days and counting til I move to St Louis, and 22 actual work days left. Let's hope I survive!

I'm in my office, with the door shut, afraid to leave, looking at the ceiling tiles to make sure that they are in their places securely.... (so far so good)....

Today's link up is showing a video clip of your pet. Mine is from when Cooper got neutered and I got him a little e-collar instead of the lampshade (he was so small it pulled his head down and dragged on the floor). This video was from the first time I put it on him ...

My puppy cracks me up. I love his little puppy fur!! (Don't worry, he didn't get hurt in the computer cord that he tangled himself up in after his barrel rolls!)

Hey y'all!! Happy Monday! Today's post is all over the place, so just hang on for the randomness ride!

Today I'm going to share another delicious recipe with you (like ooh-la-la yummy), and the best news: it's relatively light and healthy! Now, I bet those of you who read my blog on the regular will not be surprised when I tell you how I made it....yes...in the crock pot. Recipe courtesy of the amazing crock pot lady over at A Year of Slow Cooking. It's Pesto Chicken and Sweet Potatoes. Crock pot lady has a recipe for pesto...but I'm lazy so I just bought a small jar from the grocery store (and used most of it), 4 chicken breast halves, mozzarella cheese slices (I also added mushrooms in mine cuz I like them), and then 3-4 sweet potatoes (or regular ones if you don't like the sweet ones, but I think they will need to cook longer). Make sure you poke holes in the potatoes!!! We don't want potato bombs going off in your kitchen!

In a 6qt. crock, put the chicken on the bottom (raw or frozen), then cheese, mushrooms, and pesto. Put some tin foil on top and then lay the sweet potatoes (with holes poked!!!) on top. Turn on for 4-5 hours on High, or 6-7 on Low. Maybe a little longer with bigger potatoes and/or frozen chicken. So yummy!

My lunch today, in my tupperware. The "weird" looking stuff on top is just the mushrooms and really melted cheese which looks funny but tastes aaaaaamazing!

All of mine are now portioned out into rubbermaid containers for the week (I love not having to cook during the week and worry about what I'm going to bring for lunch!)

Ready for a random topic change? Cuz here's one....

Also this weekend, I made a fab find at Target (my most favoritest store in the whole wide world!): comfy wedges!! See?

Aren't they super cute (minus the icky string that keeps them together at the store that I lazily left on before taking the picture)? I think they are cuter on feet than in the picture. And for serious, they are mega comfy (and I am really sensitive in the foot/shoe department). Best part? $24.99!! Winning!

Ok, now I have a question to pose to all of you....I was doing my Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones DVD yesterday (sore butt and abs today) and the whole time when doing ab exercises she says to keep the belly button pulled in, and not to have your lower abs pushed out. I try. And I try. But, I can't figure out HOW to make it NOT stick out (and, you know, still be able to breathe, etc)?!?!? I am confused! Any thoughts, tips, explanations, etc would be welcome! haha

Alright, my post of all kinds of miscellaneous ish is now complete! Hope you all have a kick-butt start to the week!!

Is it me, or did you feel alarmingly cut off from part of the world when blogger went down? I think this means that I am officially addicted to blogging and to reading your blogs!

Since everything was down, I didn't have time to create the link-up for Photo Inspiration Friday, but hopefully we'll be able to get down to it next week!

On a fun note, I'm not sure if any of you have seen this on facebook, but a friend of mine posted this online and I thought it was incredibly ironic, so I wanted to share with you all:

I mean, even down to the headpieces/fascinators!!! The whole thing makes me giggle a little bit.

This weekend I'll be seeing my BFF who I haven't seen in far far far too long because she lives all the way down in Houston, TX. But she is back in town and I can't wait to see her tomorrow! That's my fun and exciting thing for the weekend!

Hey all--happy almost end to the week! I'm love love love'ing the awesome weather we're having here in D.C. My spirits have been high, and that is a very very good thing since I have been in the middle of application mayhem!

The bad news: in order to apply to work at a school in Missouri, you need to sign/fill out 900 million papers....some of which, I'm sure involved my signing away custody to my first born child. AND, I had to take a personality test. Really??? I thought getting my board certification there was rough (and it was) and now I have to get my work applications in along with ANOTHER teaching license application.